Research by the Brookings Institution indicates that Africa accounts for only 4% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is a small fraction compared to the largest emitters like China, the United States, and the European Union, which account respectively for 23 percent, 19 percent, and 13 percent of global emissions.

Despite this, Africa is the continent most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Already experiencing temperature increases of approximately 0.7°C over much of the continent, and with predictions that temperatures will rise further, Africa is facing a wide range of impacts, including increased drought and floods.

According to the United Nations, in the near future, climate change will contribute to decreases in Africa’s food production, floods and inundation of its coastal zones and deltas, the spread of waterborne diseases and risk of malaria, and changes in natural ecosystems and loss of biodiversity.

It is therefore not surprising that sustainability is an important area of focus for African innovators.

Solar Power for Communities

Solar nanogrid installation in Rwanda

Over 1 billion people worldwide lack access to electricity, with over 600 million of those living in Sub Saharan Africa. Electricity is vital for development, but an over-reliance on fossil fuels poses challenges for sustainability. One of the companies working to find a solution to this dilemma is MeshPower.

While there are many solar energy enterprises working in Africa, MeshPower’s approach differs in its community focus. MeshPower connects communities, not just individuals, with each of its solar nanogrid installations connecting up to 50 families. In this way, the company provides reliable and affordable electricity services to over 2,000 families.

One of MeshPower’s first female software engineers was Sonia Rugwiro, a graduate of the Akilah Institute.

E-Waste 3D Printing

Woelabs 3D Printer in Togo

E-waste has been called the toxic legacy of the digital age. And with more than 20 million tons of e-waste produced every year, it is a global challenge that shows no signs of slowing down.

At the same time, during this year’s Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, 3D printing was identified as one of the most important drivers of the fourth industrial revolution, and a big opportunity for sustainable manufacturing.

A young inventor in Togo, Kodjo Afate Gnikou, has found a way to tackle the e-waste challenge and capitalize on the 3D printing revolution, by creating a cheap 3D printer using electronic waste.

Safe Water Enterprises

Clean water kiosk in Kenya

Over 4 billion people, more than half of the world’s population, lack access to safe, sustainable, water services. Lack of access to water is one of the leading causes of poverty in Africa, according to the Water Project.

Safe Water Enterprises (SWE’s) like Maji Safi are decentralized, off-grid water treatment centers that are very effective in regions lacking basic infrastructure. Small kiosks are equipped with mobile SkyHydrant water filters, which remove suspended solids, bacteria, and viruses from water with hair-thin membrane fibers. The filtration process operates without electricity, requiring no grid connectivity.

Maji Safi is an initiative born in Kenya, currently making an impact across East Africa. To measure the impact and performance of the project, SWE relies on software developed by Energypedia Consult.

Sandrine Sangwa, another graduate of the Akilah Institute, is one of the developers behind this valuable impact measuring software.

Electric Mini Cabs

Eco-taxi in South Africa

Africa is urbanizing and ‘motorizing’ faster than any other region in the world. Unless action is taken, says the WHO, the continent’s urban air pollution levels could triple or quadruple within 15 years.

Mellowcabs manufactures three-wheeled, electric mini-cabs to provide low cost, eco-friendly and convenient taxi and transport services in built-up cities. The vehicles are manufactured from recycled materials, and feature state of the art electric motors and batteries.

The Mellowcab was developed in South African by South African serial entrepreneur Neil du Preez.

Roads from Recycled Plastic

Plastic road assembly in Ghana

Each year, approximately 380 billion plastic bags are manufactured and only 7 percent of them are recycled. This has a disastrous effect on the environment, as the durability of plastic bags makes it impossible for the natural world to break it down like organic matter.

Wanting to alleviate this problem, a company in Ghana is creating a useful alternative to asphalt to pave new roads using a significant amount of discarded plastic in its makeup.

Nelplast Ghana Limited, a company that specializes in industrial processing with an ecological slant, is behind this innovation. They are turning plastic garbage into stone-like pavement blocks which can be used to build new roads.

At the Akilah Institute, we educate Africa’s future female leaders to solve the world’s most pressing challenges through a lens of sustainability and opportunity.